Lesson 3

Sexual Behavior
Learning outcomes

At the end of the lesson, you are expected to be able to do

the following:
● Explain the role of sexual hormones in
sexual motivation
● Describe human sexual responses and
● Discuss about love, lust and attachment.
Sex Hormones and Sexual Motivation
● Sex hormones are important in our sexual development

● It influence our sexual development from conception to sexual

maturity.
● They promote the development of the sex organs and secondary
sex characteristics of males and females. responsible for
activating the reproduction - related behavior of sexual drives
and responses.
 ● In women, both estradiol and testerone are impalicated as the
hormones critical in modulating women's sexual desires,
● Estradiol is produced by the ovaries while the testosterone is
produced by both the ovaries and adrenal glands. However, literature
is mixed when it comes to which one has the strongest influence in
increasing women's sexual desire.
● There were studies indicating that testosterone has the greatest
impact on sexual activity (Freberg, 2010).
● Consequently, pharmaceutical companies have invested heavily in
the development of androgen therapies for women's with low libido,
however, there has been no FDA - approved androgen therapies to
date.
 ● There were studies however, that showed that estradiol increases
sexual desire in post- menopausal women ( e.g. cappelletti &
wallen, 2016).
● Women are sexually receptive under any hormonal condition and
irrespective of their level of sexual desire ( wallen,2001). Although,
there are reports however, of more sexual interest around the time of
ovulation.
● Sexual behavior is also associated with cultural and social
norms. For instance, sexual intercourse is often avoided during
menstruation, or increases during celebration or holidays in
some cultural context.
 Similarly,
★ Men's sexual behavior are influenced by external factores such as culture and
social relationships.
★ There are some cultures and religions that give more freedom for men to have
multiple sexual partners.
★ Also relationship problems including and loss of attraction affect one's sexual
motivation and behavior are not entirely driven by sex hormones.Affect one’s
sexual desire.
★ Unarguably though, testosterone plays an important role in controlling and
synchronizing male sexual desire and arousal.

In meta analysis study, testosterone therapy is to improve low desire and

erectile dysfunction ( Corona, Isidori, Aversa, Burnett,& Maggi, 2016).
 Erogenous Zones
➢ Stimulation of the erogenous zone or those areas in the human body
that have heightemed sensitivity, can produce sexual responses
including arousal, sexual thoughts and lor fantesies and orgasm. They
are found all over the body and are quite complex and intericately
connected. Males and females appear to have effectively the same
distribution of erogenous zones. This was the finding derived fron a
systematic study on the magnitude of arousal for various body parts
between men and women (Turnbull, lovett,& Chaldecott,2014).
Although, it was reported that women reported greater sensitivity in
several body parts. Thus, its is not entirely rigth to claim that women
a greater diversity of erogenous zones.
➔ It is however clear that women experience higher erotic intensity
for some of body parts. [Body parts arousal scores highest first]
Females Males
Clitoris Penis
Vagina Mouth/ lips
Mouth/ lips Scrotum
Nape of neck Inner thigh
Breasts Nape of neck
Nipples Nipples
Inner thigh Perineum
Back of neck Pubic hairline
 Sexual Response
❖ Sexual desire is typically higher in men that in women ( Van Anders,
2012). Men reported to be more open to casual sex and multiple sex
partners while women are more likely to combine sex with romantic
relationship ( Rathus, 2104).

❖ William Master and Virginia John (1966) found that males and
females tend to produce the same biological responses to sexual
stimulation including Vasocongestion and Myotonia.
 Vasocongestion

❖ Refers to the swelling of the bodily tissues due

to increased blood flow that causes erection of
the penis and the swelling of the nipples and the
surrounding area of the vagina.
 Myotonia
❖ Is muscle contraction and tension that causes spasm of
orgasm and spasms of the hands and feet. With
adequate sexual stimulation and orgasm are achieved.

❖ Masters and Johnson( 1966) describe the sexual

response cycle as consisting of four phases:
excitement, plateau, orgasmic and resolution.
 Excitement phase
★ For males, the penis becomes erect, the scrotal skin
thickens and becomes less baggy and the testes increase
in size and become elevated. In females, excitement as
seen in the engorgement of the clitoris and the labia and
expansion of the inner parts of the vagina.
Vaginallubrication also starts. There is increased hearts
rate and blood pressure.
 Plateau phase
★ This phase is an advance state of arousal before the orgasm.
This is characterized by a somewhat stable state in the cycle.
In male, there is a slight increase in the size of the
circumference of the head of the penis. In females, further
vasocongestion is seen in the swelling of the outer part of the
vagina and the full expansion of the inner vagina. The clitoris
stortens as it withdraws beneath the ctitoral hood. Breathing
becomes more rapid, heart rate increases and blood pressure
continues to rise.
 Orgasmic phase
➢ Male orgasm involves muscle contractions that propel semen
from the body. Sensation of pleasure tend to be related to the
strength of the contractions and the volume the first three to four
contractions appears more slowly. Orgasm in female involves
rhythmic contractions of the viginal walls, anal sphincter and
uterus. As with males, contractions accur at 0.8 second intervals.,
pleasurable sensation are subjectively located in the different
areas of the genital region. Weaker and sloer constractions follow.
Blood pressure and heart rate a peak and respiration also
increass.
 Resolution Phase
➢ In the post- orgasm phase, the body return to its pre-an
used state. Men lose their erection and enter a refractory
period during which they cannot experience another
orgasm or ejaculate. The teste and scrotum also return to
their normal size. Females do not experience a refractry
period and therefore can become quickly rearoused to the
point of multiple, orgasm if they want to and if there is
continued sexual stimulation.
Love, Lust and Attachment
➢ Sexual relationships can be described based on the kinds or
level is sex which is a physical or biological need aimed at
releasing sexual tension and experiencing pleasure and
satisfaction. Without any deep connection, partners
engaging in sexual intercourse merely satisfy their lust.

➢ Lust is enjoyment in the “ here and now” with little to no

consideration of long- term commitment ( Forster, Ozesel,&
Epstude 2010).
 ➢ In Modern times, this takes this takes the orm of hooks-
up ,one- nigth stands, or “ friends with benefits”. When
partners not only physically desire but most importantly seek
for an enduring Union with each other sexual relationship
already associated with attachment goals and sharing of a life
together ( Forester, Ozelsel,& Epstude, 2010).

➢ There are many perspective about romantic love and one is

presented here that is Robert Sternberg’s (1988) triangle model
of love. The triangle compromises three essentials components.
Intimacy
★ Refers to the couple’s sense of closeness and resources
Passion
★ Means romance and sexual feelings

Commitment
★ Means deciding to enhance and maintain the relationship. Passion
is most crucial in short-term relationships while intimacy and
commitment are more important in enduring relationships. The
Ideal form of love - consummate love - combine all three.
 How is attachment formed?
❏ There are two perspective that would provide explanations - one is
biological and the other is psychological.
❏ Form the biological point of view, certain hormones, such as
oxytocin influence bonding in romantic relationships. Although
oxytocin is released in both men and women during orgasm, but it
is released in higher levels in women during childbirth and
breastfeeding. It also appears to be highly associated to women's
feelings of romantic love than in men whose higher levels of
testosterone raise their sexual desires ( Freberg, 2010).
❏ A psychological explanation of romantic attachment is
anchored on Mary Ainsworth's theory on types of
attachment style. Attachment theorists believe that the
earliest mother- child bond influence adult
relationships including romantic partnerships.
Ainsworth and her colleagues experimented with
mothers and infant and and examined how infants
reacted when their mothers left the room for few
minutes and then returned.
 Three attachment style
➢ Were observed -Secure, anxious- resistant and anxious-
avoidant.( Feist, & Roberts, 2018)
➢ Securely attached infants are happy and enthusiastic upon the
return of their mother. They demonstrated confidence in the
accessibility and responsiveness of their caregiver.
➢ Anxious- resistants was displayed by infants through
ambivalence. They were unusually upset when their mothers left
the room. When their mothers returned, they seek contact but at
the same time reject their mother smoothing attempt. These infant
give contradictory message to their mothers.
➢ Anxious- Avoidant style was seen in infants who were
calm when their mothers leave them but also were
indifferent on their mother's return.
LESSON 2

Gender and
Sexual Orientation
 Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to be able to do the
following:
● Explain the meaning of gender, gender identity, and gender
expression;
● Discuss sexual orientation, its different categories and
possible contributing factors and
● Explain the multidimensional view of the sexual self.
 Gender
● Gender is a term that is used to describe the characteristics, wether biology
or socially-influenced, that people use to define males and females. (Myers
& Twenge, 2017).
● It is shape by cultural expectations and social roles that affect people’s self-
concept, behaviors and aspirations (Rathus,2014)
● We basically learn about our gender and to act accordingly, that is based on
our gender roles, through a lifelong socialization process.
● The awareness of one’s gender identity usually starts with self-
categorization that influences individuals to engage in gender-
typed behaviors (keener, 2015)
● In Bem’s (1981) gender schema theory, our identification as a
man or woman affects our development, because it directs
what we pay attention to and process.
● Gender is traditionally understood based on binary categories:
male/ masculine and female/feminine.
 Table : Gender Identity Terminologies
Cisgender Is a male or female that identifies with the sex that was
assigned at birth. Cisgender people also identify, to some
degree, with the gender norms (excluding sexual
orientation) that are associated with their sex.

Genderquuer Is used to describe a gender identity when the binary

conceptualization of gender, male or female, does not
accurately describe an individual’s gendered outlook or self-
concept
Intersex Describe a variety of medical conditions wherein an individual’s
reproductive anatomy or genitals do not fit the binary definition of
male or female.

Transgender Is a man whose sex is female but he lives and identifies as male.
man/ Female to
Man (FtM)

Transgender Is a woman whose sex is male but she lives and identifies as
woman? Male to female.
Female (MtF)
 Gender expression
● the manner by which people express themselves and behave may be true to
their gender identity such as when they convey their sense of femininity or
masculinity outwardly.
● This may occur naturally for the majority, that their actions are effortless.
● There are some people whose gender expression does not match their gender
identity and who are more comfortable presenting themselves as an opposite
sex.
● However ,there are those who undergo transexual surgery but who still keep
their sexual orientation.
● Celebrities like Caitlyn Jenner and Angie King are biologically male, but
became transwomen and they remained to be heterosexual in sexual orientation.
 Sexual Orientation
● Refers to the stable pattern of attraction or sexual interest that one has to a
member of a particular sex.
● It should not be mistaken as sexual behavior because they are not necessarily
the same.
● Majority of the people have heterosexual orientation, that is their sexual
interest is towards people of the opposite sex.
● Others have homosexual in which their sexual and romantic interest are with
same sex individuals and they are either gay or lesbian.
 Table 2: Sexual Orientation Terminologies

Asexual Refers to the absence of physical or sexual attraction to another

human being. An sexual man or woman can have romantic,
intellectual, or emotional attractions to other people but they do not
engage in physical sexual acts.
Bisexual The sexual orientation that describes either a male or a female who is
attracted to both males and females

Gay Depending on the context, gay can refer to either gay males and/or
lesbians. Gay males are self-identified men who are emotionally,
physically, romantically and/or sexually attracted to people who
identufy as male.
Lesbian A self-identified female who is emotionally, physically, romantically
and/or sexually attracted to other people who identify as female.

Hetero- An individual who identifies as either a male or female (can be

sexual cisgender, FtM, or MtF) and is attracted to indivuals of the opposite
sex.

Queer Is an umbrella term that is used to describe an individual’s self-

concept of their sexual orientation identity.
 Factors Contributing to
Sexual Orientation

● Sexual orientation has been examined from the nature and nurture
perspectives, or based on the biological make-up of the individual and
environmental influences.
 Biological Factor
● It was found that 52% monozygotic twins, whose genetic codes are
nearly identical, share a gay male sexual orientation, as compared
with 22% fraternal twins (Rathus, 2014; Pinel, 2014)
● It is seen that the probability of becoming a homosexual man
increases with the number of older brothers, as a compared men who
have no siblings , have younger siblings only, or older sisters
(Blanchard & Lippa, 2007; Blanchard, 2004)
 ● The explanation for this is the maternal immune hypothesis in which there are some mothers who
become progressively immune to masculining hormones as they bear male fetuses and such
hormones may be deactivated in the later pregnancies of their sons (Blanchard, 2004)
● There is also the assumption that sexual orientation is associated with sex hormones.

Environmental Factor
● Social-cognitive theories provide explanation for how sexual orientation could
possibly develop.
● They look into the process of observational and experimental learning.
● Some theories for homosexual orientation include early exposure to an enjoyable
male-male or female-female sexual encounters,
● The inavailabilty of a sexual partner of the opposite sex in ones cultural group
● Many critics point out though that sexual orientation is not simply a matter of sexual
preference, such as choosing what particular sex one would partner with.
Multidimensional View of the Sexual Self
● From the eealier discussion, a distinction has beed made about biological sex,
sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
● These variables are related with each other as they exist in one person, however,
as noted earlier, they are not necessarily congruent with each other.
● The general expectation is that individuals will identify with their biological sex,
establish their gender identity, be attracted towards the opposite sex, and express
themselves based on cultural norms.
The multidimensional aspect of the sexual self is well depicted in the Genderbread
Person.